Pierce Transit asks for resident input

By Avani Nadkarni/of The Herald

Pierce Transit Senior Planner Tina Lee attended the Nov. 2 Sumner City Council meeting with a plea to all Sumner residents: Tell us what you think.

Lee said Pierce Transit has planned nine public workshops around Pierce County — the next one being held Nov. 10 in Sumner — as well as summits for city planners to try and get a feel for what residents want their transit system to look like.

Transit ridership has grown 20 percent in the past year, thanks in part to the economy, Lee said. However, Pierce Transit obtains 73 percent of its revenue from local sales tax, which has declined considerably.

From 2007 to 2009, sales tax is estimated to decline by a total of $41 million and Pierce Transit is feeling the pinch.

“In the future, it’s not sustainable for us,” Lee explained to the seven council members, Mayor Dave Enslow and the several dozen residents gathered at city hall.

So Pierce Transit is taking the time to find out what works.

“We’re using this as an effort to hear from the community ... to rebuild,” Lee said. “We are having some issues in Sumner. ...We’re hoping the community can help us.”

Among the Sumner-related issues is the new industrial park route that was implemented last year. The route simply isn’t getting the ridership Pierce Transit expected, Lee said.

“Maybe there are some markets we should be reaching that we’re not,” Lee said.

Councilmember Steve Allsop expressed concern about residential streets turning into busy bus routes.

“Will we have a say in that?” he questioned.

Absolutely, Lee answered, saying that these fall workshops were just part of Pierce Transit’s “public involvement piece” and that other winter workshops would follow.

“So often (we) see people say, ‘How did that happen? No one told me,’” Enslow told residents. “This is your chance to speak out. Please be a part of that.”

The Pierce Transit workshop will be held from 6:30-10 p.m.., Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Sumner City Hall.